EVF comparisons

[tapesonthefloor]

Hey all,

Has anyone posted a thorough comparison of everyone's μ4/3 EVF offerings? I know the selection isn't great (there's built-in Pannys, the add-on Panny, the add-on Oly) but I'm trying to make a decision on a μ4/3 body for legacy glass use and my major requirement is a high definition EVF. I'm led to believe the add-on Panasonic EVF is not satisfactory, therefore I'm left deciding between a G/GH body and an E-P2/E-PL1 with the add-on EVF.

I have tried both recently. I'm going to do as many side-by-sides as I can over the next few days. I'm still not entirely decided, so I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

I've searched pretty thoroughly before posting this, so accept my apologies if it's a double.

 

[greyelm]

I have a G1 and a GF1 with LVF-1. The G1 has a large sharp VF which is great for manual focussing legacy lenses. The LVF-1 is smaller and lower resolution but it still works ok (for me). I haven't tried the Oly EVF but I understand that it is better than the LVF, but it is big and ugly. I would recommend the G1, especially now the price is so good.

 

[Warren T.]

I have a G1 and a GF1 with LVF-1. The G1 has a large sharp VF which is great for manual focussing legacy lenses. The LVF-1 is smaller and lower resolution but it still works ok (for me). I haven't tried the Oly EVF but I understand that it is better than the LVF, but it is big and ugly. I would recommend the G1, especially now the price is so good.

Greyelm about summed it up 🙂

All the G bodies with built-in EVF (except for the G10) have the really nice, high-res EVF.

The LVF-1 is low-res, and is usable, but not as pleasant. It's tolerable, but unfortunately is the only add-on EVF available for Lumix GF bodies. IMO, the resolution of the LVF-1 is not good enough to manually focus without magnifying the view. It's inconvenient when trying to work rapidly with a MF lens (to have to magnify the view each time to focus).

The Oly EVF is supposed to be superb though I've never looked through one myself.

--Warren

 

[tapesonthefloor]

Thanks for your responses.

Based on my first impressions, the G1/G2 EVF and the Oly EVF were quite good. I did notice almost a grey cast to the images on the Panasonic ones, but maybe I imagined that. The Oly EVF seemed to be a slightly high refresh rate, but that, too, might be my imagination.

The only thing that bothered me with both is that the slight delay of the VF combined with my jittery hands to make focusing more difficult than it had to be, but I suppose that's going to be an unavoidable side effect of this set-up.

I also noticed that the G bodies had such a violent shutter that it seemed greater than the mirror slap on almost every SLR I've ever used. Is this a common complaint with these bodies?

Thanks again.

 

[markwatts]

I haven't used the Olympus or inbuilt Panasonic offerings, but I do have the EVF for my GF1. I have an adapter for nikkors also but I only use panasonic pancakes and 7-14 with VC OVF. The view through the EVF is workable but not enjoyable to my eye.

 

[PCB_RF]

I have a GF1 w/EVF, and it's the worst of the bunch, but I can focus legacy lenses w/EVF. View through the others is definitely much better, in terms of brightness, sharpness and eye relief.

Panny/Oly refresh rate should be the same except for the GH2, which is twice as fast. I've only played with the GH2, but I think its finder is the best of the bunch.

FWIW, the VF delay/jumpiness is minimal in bright light w/lens wide open. Lower light levels and stopped-down apertures accentuate the jumpiness. You'll see noise at low light levels, even with lenses wide-open.

I find interface issues more critical than EVF diffs, FWIW.

Not sure how to address your shutter question. M4/3 shutters need to cycle close-open-close-open for each exposure, but that's pure shutter curtain movement, no mirror involved. Don't know if Panny's shutter is louder than Oly, or if anyone has tested actual shutter/body vibration levels.

Based on my first impressions, the G1/G2 EVF and the Oly EVF were quite good. The Oly EVF seemed to be a slightly higher refresh rate

the slight delay of the VF combined with my jittery hands to make focusing more difficult than it had to be

G bodies had such a violent shutter that it seemed greater than the mirror slap on almost every SLR I've ever used

 

[ian paterson]

I had the Oly EVF and it was fantastic. One thing that no-one has mentioned is the fact that the built in EVF would be preferable to the add on EVF. The Oly one had nothing to secure it in place when on the camera - mine was subsequently knocked off and lost! At the cost it was I will not be replacing it - if Oly do not come out with an PEN upgrade including a built in EVF this next 6 months then I'll be jumping ship to an alternative eg Panasonic or Fujifilm.

 

[tapesonthefloor]

Hm, I'll have to try a couple of the VFs in sunlight then, and see if it helps with the short delay issue. I don't think it was a deal-breaker for me or anything, though.

Don't know if Panny's shutter is louder than Oly, or if anyone has tested actual shutter/body vibration levels.

I'm a bit surprised that no one has, actually, but then I was already surprised at the lack of decent reviews on the various EVF solutions. In the absence of professional tests, then, I can give you my amateur one: the Olympus shutters have a tight, quick whine, accompanied by very little vibration. The Panasonic GH1, on the other hand, threatened to jump out of my hand with every shot. 😀 It definitely feels like enough to throw off even tripod exposures.

...but that's all off-topic, here. This is all about the EVFs. Are there any good reviews out there on the EVFs? Specifically in the context of a legacy glass/manual focusing set-up?

 

[Jim Simmons]

Oly EVF very good with legacy glass

Oly EVF very good with legacy glass

I have the VF-1 on my E-PL1 and use it with a 40mm Summicron and a 25mm f/4 Skopar. The Summicron focusses easily, but the f/4 aperture of the Skopar makes critical focussing a chore. When I borrow a friends Olympus 17mm lens, the view is brilliant and taking photos with that rig is really enjoyable!

There is one problem with the EVF. The rubber ring around the viewfinder does nothing to block light from coming into your eye, creating a washed out image. The accessory rubber eyecup is mandatory for the EVF to be all that it's meant to me. They should have included it with the EVF, especially seeing how overpriced the thing is. I spent half as much in the EVF as I did on the E-PL1 body!

 

[remphoto]

It's really difficult to beat the G1 for use with legacy glass. The built in viewfinder has very decent resolution and you don't have to worry about knocking it off or breaking it (though the package is somewhat larger than the other bodies). IMHO a major advantage of the G1 is a better grip to balance the weight of the legacy lenses. I have not found shutter action to be any more violent than on my Oly. Of course, Oly bodies do have in-body stabilization, so I supposed that is a plus in their favor for low light situations.

 

[usayit]

I use a lens cap keeper to keep the excellent olympus evf from getting lost.

GF1 evf is not ideal for manual lenses imo.